The finite orthogonal group obtained by quotienting a crystal space group by its translation subgroup. In three dimensions there are 32 crystallographic point-group types, constrained by preservation of a lattice. It describes macroscopic rotational and reflection symmetry, not the fractional translations of the full space group.
A point about which inversion maps each atomic species onto equivalent sites of that species, possibly after lattice translations. An inversion center need not coincide with an atom.
The composition of a rotation about an axis with inversion through a point on the axis. A operation rotates by a quarter turn and reverses all coordinates through the inversion center. It can preserve a basis whose height pattern is not preserved by a pure fourfold rotation.

Ancestors (6)

  1. Crystal symmetry
  2. Crystallography
  3. Crystal structure
  4. Physical chemistry
  5. Chemistry
  6. Home

Incoming links (5)

View article source

Discussion (0) New discussion

There are no discussions about this article yet.

Articles by others on the same topic (1)

Crystallographic point group by Wikipedia Bot 1
View more
A crystallographic point group is a mathematical classification of the symmetry of a crystal structure. These groups describe the symmetry operations that leave at least one point (typically the origin) invariant, meaning those operations do not alter the position of that point. The main symmetry operations included in crystallographic point groups are: 1. **Rotation**: Turning the crystal around an axis. 2. **Reflection**: Flipping the crystal across a plane.
Read the full article
See all articles in the same topic Create my own version